The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1887-06-11


wares.
When night set in heavy. light colored
column of smoke rose in the southwest
After little time blaze shot up above the
trees, and IN a few minutes more the heay-
ems were red from the blaze of the fire
londer is their work, Henry said,
pointing in the direction of the fire 1t
may not be the gang that was here but it
is the work of some of the same class of
villains.
This thing is terrible" exclaimed the
ladies', God pity the helplessl'
Johns teeth were grinding together, but
he said not word.
In few moments more another fire
sprang up near the first, but not so large
There was no need to be told that II was
the work of the murferous bushwhackers;
that they We're firing their neghbors
buildings was but too evident to our friends
1t made them tremble with apprehension,
for they did not know how soon their lovely
home might be laid IN ashes, and they left
without place to shelter themselves from
the elements.
jeff came III and passed through into the
kitchen. lie carried his old gun swung
under his arm, and his hat was placed on
the back part Of his woody head The ne
gro had an air of contentment and seemed
TO be In his element.
When he returned he carried in his hand
a small muslin sack. or poke" as they
call the article IN Arkansas, and it was well
nlled with edibles.
"Marse john"
well, JEFF, what now"
Is gwine ter lebe YER" And he mo-
toned for John to give him another private
interview.
That gentleman had now more confidence
in, and respect for, the negro before him
than he had in the whole race before. and
1t was with alacrlty that he stepped from the
group to hear what the coIored man had TO
tell him
JEFF, do you really intend TO leave u.s."
John anxiously asked
Yes. but | wants ter tole yer bout it, so
st yer may know whar Is gwine ter, an
eff | don't come back yerl know case
why. And he then proceeded TO tell John
OF his proposed trip. lie was going to start
that night for the river He had been raised
in that part of the country and was familiar
with it. He wanted to do little hunting
there, he said He proposed to find their
camp and see how the bushwhackers lived
at home. lie would Try and find out what
he could in regard to their plans, and would
not return until lie had accomplished some
thing.
John liked the plan well enough, but it
seemed too dangerous, and he tried to per
suade the faithful man to abandon the prof.
ect, but to no avail.
sylvia was peeping through the kitchen
door way and JET cast tender glance in
that direction. In another moment he was
gone. 4 cloud settled over the face OF John
as he saw his dusky friend depart, for he
had begun TO appreciate his services, and
the spirit. although under a dark covering,
that Impelled him to risk his life for his
friends. Vigilance was deemed necessary
now. and a continual watch was kept about
the premises.
Two nights and q day had passed away
and nothing of an exciting nature had oc-
CURED, nor had JEFF returned from the
river. As daylight came on the second day
John began to be restless over the continued
absence of the negro, and he and Henry,
after armIng the more intelligent male
slaves and stationing them in and around
the house, concluded to take q short scout
in search Of him.
Lille and her Young friend Laura had
become quite proficient III the use of the
smaller arms. and the turbulent times were
beginning TO erase fear from their nature.
After making preparations the men took
their arms and started for the stables for
their horses.
Before they had left the porch aud
reached the walk. they saw two strang IS
leaving the stable yards They common ed
yelling and firing their pistols, and started
away on a run.
John at once recognized the horses. One
was his own favorite steed, and the other
young Woodsleys.
Both men tired simultaneously, but APP
parently without effect, for the thieves
kept on.
John and his companion FASTENED to the
stables and shortly had two other animals
ready, when they mounted and eagerly
started IN pursuit.
When our two friends reached the Wire
Road they discovered the men Of whom
they were IN quest nearly a half mile dis
tant, travelling leisurely along.
The pursuers urged their animals for
ward, and away they went like the wind
j They appeared to be unobserved until they
+ had arrived within almost haillng distance
+ when, as if OF a sudden, the two in front
saw the hOrsemen upon their track, and
they whipped their animals on.
+ The race was becoming exciting, and the
/ pursuers were gaming on the pursued
when the men in front turned quickly t.
the right and dashed into the woods as If t
+ escape, but apparently changed their minds
for a few rods further on they appeared
again in the road
/ On they went, and on came the others
+ They had nearly reached the locality where
+ the men had left the road when John, wht
was in advance, saw something that mad,
him put forth every effort to stop hi
horse which was on a mad run. He yelled
to his companion to stop, but the command
was unheeded, and in a moment more hi
horse came to a sudden halt, and the ride
flew INTO the air and struck IN a heap on
the dusty road.
John was more fortunate. His horse hat
struck the obstruction, but so lightly tina
he was merely thrown over, and by cling
ing to his animal fore top he saved himsel
from a severe fall. As it was, he struck til
road in no gentle manner, and was some
what stunned by the occurrence.
The wire had been cut from the pole
and a section of it stretched tightly acros
the highway, and fastened at either end t
trees located near. 1t was place ! so that j
would reach to a horses breast IN height
and the effect of animals running against !
At a rapid speed was what we have mar
rated.
We have never heard of this wire trlcl
being played, during the war, except on tn
Wire Road IN Arkansas. There It wa
PLAYED, and that successfully. These tw
bushwhackers were the originate. of thi
deylllsh scheme. that was so often pTac
ticed successfully afterward
Although the present occurrence hap.
penedin broad daylight, the wire was geuer
ally resorted to aftcrward in the dark 0
evening or in the night rs it was then i'm
possible for the victim to see in time t
avert disaster. They improved on tn
original method, and would place the wiz
so that it would strike some " hat above th
back Of an ordinary horse, and conse
quentiy the rider would strike the wiz
while the horse would 90 under untouched
When the man struck the wire Will
going at full speed death was probably tn
result. II was likely to almost cut a ma
in twain, and if death did not at once en-
sue, the victim was in a crippled or stunne
condition and easily fell prey to the vi.
bUshwhacker, who furnished, often, huma
food, and was as often himself fed. to tn
buzzards chat lived among the White Rive
hills.
" len John gathered his senses he sar
HarTys horse lying upon the ground nea
him in the last throes OF death. He was
low animal and had seen the wire when al
-.